Another One Bites the Dust!

Hi Webster!

Meet Webster.  Webster was rescued from Webster and Ferndale this morning.  I have been very blessed, rescuing quite a few adult cats from the streets this past year, and finding them homes.  I am waiting for my friend to tally up how many so far, at last count back in August, it was over 40, and I am sure its gone up quite a bit since then.

I received a note from a total stranger yesterday who was interested in a cat, a cat that needed to be rescued, and she was willing to do it.  That’s a rarity.  J  This person originally received a picture of Sweet Pea from a friend of a girl who reads my blog and is on my e-mail list.  I’ve never met the girl originator either, but already know she’s a great girl from our years of correspondence.  Its amazing what the internet can do.  I hate it and I love it.  I told her about Sweet Pea being adopted, and offered Princess, the sweet little thing that met me every morning at 4^th and Penn, and let me hold her in my lap each morning.  I have not seen her in a while, hoping she was picked up and is being loved by someone.  In the meantime, as embarrassed as I am admitting this, I’ve been feeding back at Ferndale and Webster at the house on the corner where the Spanish people lived, had allowed me to feed at their driveway, then told me I couldn’t it anymore.  They have moved, and the house is vacant. This is back in the day of crazy Merilee and the Devil Man.  If you will all recall from past posts.  If you ever want to read about it, type in those names in the search bar above.  Anyways, there is a sweet red, eartipped, a sweet black kitty, that I had fixed after she had obviously recently given birth, a month or so ago, and Webster, this guy.  He is the reason I originally started again because I had seen him on the side of the road as I was heading to the ‘back nine’, the second half of my feeding spots on the west side of Goodman.   So after explaining to this girl, telling her how I would love to find him a home because of how sweet he is, she said “I’ll take him!”

What a lucky boy!  He is very shy right now, won’t come out of his carrier, but sticks his head out the entire time I am with him, and lets me pet him, but still shy.  He will come around. He doesn’t know how lucky he has it!  His new mom will pick him up tomorrow.  HURRAY!  Another one off the street!

Someone mentioned straw vs. hay on yesterday’s post, and where to purchase it.  Here is what the experts say: 

 Straw and hay may look similar, but they’re very different when it comes to insulating your feral cat shelters.

Hay is used for animal feed—it draws and holds moisture, which you don’t want in your cat shelter.

Straw, the dry leftover stalks from harvested crops, repels moisture, making it ideal for keeping cats and other animals warm and comfy all winter long.

If you’re able to do a side by side comparison, the easiest way to tell whether you’re buying straw or hay is the price difference: while cost varies by region, hay should be two to three times more expensive than straw.

Straw is also usually tough, thick, lightweight, and yellow or golden in color, while hay is heavy and green. But hay comes in a number of varieties, so if you aren’t sure – ask the clerk!

So, where can you find straw? Check out these locations in your area to see if they carry straw for animal bedding:

• Pet supply stores
• Farm, livestock, or agricultural supply stores or catalogs
• Garden centers
• Try asking your veterinarian for local suppliers.
• If you live in a farming community, ask your neighbors!

What do I do with it? Loosely pack the straw on the inside bottom of the shelter—filling the shelter to the quarter or halfway point—to insulate it. Hands down, straw makes the best bedding.

Caregivers’ tip: Straw usually comes in bales, but you only need a fraction of a bale to line your cat shelter. Consider sharing a bale with other caregivers or holding a shelter building event in your community. The good news is that, when cared for properly, straw can last decades. Store straw off the ground (for instance, on a wood pallet) and keep it dry by storing indoors.

On another great note – the girl that adopted Autumn last week, and renamed her Bonnie, is willing to foster some kittens.  She originally was going to foster the three I have presently – Roger, Henry and Patches, but they are hopefully going to be meet and greet kittens this weekend, so I’ve been holding off on handing them over to her.  Last minute yesterday, my friend Kristin told me about MORE kittens at this Roberts Wesleyan College situation, and told me about a six week old kitten, and two ten week old kittens that were still there, and living outside.  I asked Bonnie’s mother if she would be willing to foster them, and she said yes!!!  So, more kitten pictures coming, and more kittens needing adoption soon!  Spread the good word!  J

Have a GREAT day!

"Fight one more round. When your feet are so tired that you have to shuffle back to the center of the ring, fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired you wish your opponent would crack you one in the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round - remembering that the man who always fights one more round is never whipped."